Strike Averted On Nation's Largest Commuter Rail Line : The Two-WayUnions representing Long Island Rail Road workers had threatened to go out on strike Sunday, potentially stranding hundreds of thousands of commuters. But a deal was reached Thursday.

Strike Averted On Nation's Largest Commuter Rail Line

A man checks the Long Island departure board at New York's Penn Station on Tuesday
Richard Drew/AP
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Richard Drew/AP

A man checks the Long Island departure board at New York's Penn Station on Tuesday

Richard Drew/AP

A tentative agreement has headed off a strike at the nation's largest commuter railroad.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who became personally involved in talks between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and unions representing Long Island Rail Road workers, announced Thursday that a deal had been reached, three days ahead of a planned strike.

The 5,400 LIRR employees had been working without a contract since 2010.

"This is a compromise by both parties after four long years," Cuomo said.

Cuomo brought the two sides back to the table on Wednesday after talks appeared to falter.

"For much of the week, labor leaders suggested a strike was all but certain on the railroad, which accounts for about 300,000 rider trips on weekdays," The New York Timesreports.

Details of the bargain were not announced. Talks had continued through the night, and labor and management came to an agreement Thursday at the governor's Manhattan office.